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Unlike childhood birthday parties of yesteryear, which revolved around a birthday cake and a small gathering of mostly family and a friend or two, today's parties require a bit more. Generally, all of your child's acquaintances from school are invited to the party, which should at the very least have a theme if not an exotic locale. What is a parent to do when faced with the monolithic task of planning the party of the century for their toddler, without the time or even energy to begin thinking about doing so? Fear not, Austin offers plenty of kiddie-party options.
If your kid is under the age of 10, Kiddie Acres makes a fun spot for birthday celebrating. Located on Howard Lane in Northern Austin, Kiddie Acres is a small amusement park with only age appropriate rides, all seemingly vintage and well maintained and colorful. The park includes a mini ferris wheel, boats, planes, cars, a carousel, a train, as well as a real pony ride. They sell packages of tickets that you can dispense to your guests and provide large picnic tables where you can set up the cake and lemonade.
If your party occurs in the heat of the summer, you could consider some of the excellent indoor options. Pump It Up, located in central Austin, boasts a wide variety of inflatables. Kids are ushered from room to room to try out all of the offerings before returning to a party room you can serve the requisite pizza and cake.
In the same vein, Inflatable Wonderland in Lakeline Mall provides a smaller scale selection of inflatables. While the party is less intimate, the space provides discounts during the week for the budget conscious as well as inflatables appropriate for kids under 3. Picnic tables are available to accomdate cake serving and present collection.
The Austin Park and Pizza also rents out private rooms for parties. Your room overlooks the arcade area, and included with the package are armbands for your guests that give them access to their arcade, laser tag, and outdoor attractions, including bumper boats, a teacup ride, and miniature golf. Guests can also help themselves to all-you-can eat pizza, salad, and dessert.
For a less pizza intensive gathering, RadiJazz Playnasium in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center is a good choice. The indoor playscape features a riverscape, volcano, lavascape, and a lounge area where you can prepare your party and later enjoy cake.
If you prefer a more active birthday, the Crenshaw Athletic Club on Fairview Drive can be rented for several hours, with facilitators leading children through age appropriate activities in the gym, such as an obstacle course, trampolines, swinging on ropes across a pool filled with balls, and other similar activities. A small cottage can be used to host the cake eating and includes bathrooms and a small jungle gym outdoors. There is even a handy tree for stringing up the ubiquitous piata.
If you are willing to go a bit further afield, the Little Buckaroo Ranch, located about 30 minutes outside of Austin on Hamilton Pool Road, offers a variety of party themes, pony riding, painting a pony, barnyard buddies, and a square dance party. Party participants can ride miniature ponies, pet farm animals, and then dig into cake. The ranch chuckwagon offers hot dogs, chips, punch and bottled water.
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